6 Mar 2024

Opposition Preview: Leigh Leopards

Off the back of victory over Catalans Dragons last time out, the Rhinos look for their first away win of 2024 when Rohan Smith's side head to Leigh Sports Village to take on Leigh Leopards on Friday night, kick off 8pm.

As matchday approaches, find out more about Adrian Lam's Leigh side here:

Overview

Name: Leigh Leopards

Founded: 1878

Seasons in Super League: Five

Head Coach: Adrian Lam

Club Captain: John Asiata

Last three season finishes: 2023 = 5th, 2022 = 1st (Championship Winners), 2021 = 12th

Best SL finish: Fifth

Grand Final appearances: None

Most career appearances: Albert Worrall (503)

Most career tries: Mick Martyn (189)

Most career points: John Woods (2492)

So far in 2024...

After trophy success and a big first season back in the Betfred Super League, Leigh Leopards look to build again in 2024.

Their return to the top tier, masterminded by Adrian Lam, saw the club take the league by storm. Between rounds nine and 19, the Leopards only lost once as they reached second place at their peak; Josh Charnley led the way with 15 tries on his way to finishing the season with 26. The winger enters his testimonial year this year, having had try-scoring impacts at Wigan and Warrington over the course of his career.

With a largely unchanged squad from last season, Matt Moylan was the only big arrival to join Lachlan Lam in the Leopards' spine. The club also invested in its younger talent, capturing Huddersfield's Owen Trout, Hull's Ben McNamara, Warrington's Jack Darbyshire and Wigan's Kevan Rothwell to bolster their squad options.

Starting the season with a defeat to Huddersfield on a wet night at home, the Leopards gained an extra week on the training ground the following week as their game against Wigan was postponed in place of the World Club Challenge. Returning to action last Friday, despite losing Tom Briscoe and John Asiata to both injury and the sin bin, Lam's side kept it close against St Helens but couldn't get the result in a 12-6 defeat.

The rest of this month sees the Leopards take on the Rhinos at home before travelling away to Hull FC and Salford Red Devils, where they hope to get some wins on the board ahead of the derby clash with Wigan in April.

Squad

Ones to Watch

Lachlan Lam

A key catalyst in Leigh's trophy success last season, Lachlan Lam's retention for 2024 and 2025 was good news to the ears of Leopards fans after the half back was touted for move back to the NRL during the off-season. Alongside Gareth O'Brien, the pair orchestrated the club's best season to date and capped the year off with a Challenge Cup Final win over Hull KR, as well as a Play Off finish. Lam also picked up individual honours across the year, including the club's player of the year.

So far in 2024, it has been a slow start for the half back in two tight games. Now working in tandem with the heavily experienced Matt Moylan, they aim to click at home this week when the Rhinos come to the Leigh Sports Village.

Josh Charnley

Josh Charnley was back at the top of the Super League try charts last season when the winger scored 26 tries in his first full season with the Leopards. After rising through the ranks at Wigan before moving to rugby union, the England international moved to the Leopards in 2022 after a spell with Warrington, and didn't look back.

Robbie Mulhern

Robbie Mulhern prepares to face his former club this Friday as the England international is one of four former Rhinos in the Leigh squad.

Last season's successes at club level saw the forward earn a call-up to Shaun Wane's England squad, where he featured against Tonga in the third test victory. Currently contracted through to the end of the 2026 season with Leigh, Mulhern has been one of the side's top performers in the opening rounds with the most metres made by a Leopards player (331), the second most carries (34) and the second most tackles (75).

Fixtures

Round Four - Vs Leeds Rhinos (LSV, KO 8pm)

Round Five - Vs Hull FC (MKM Stadium, KO 3pm)

Round Six - Vs Salford Red Devils (Salford Stadium, KO 5.30pm)

Round Seven - Vs Wigan Warriors (LSV, KO 8pm)

Round Eight - Vs Warrington Wolves (Halliwell Jones, KO 3pm)

Stats Performers

Tries: Josh Charnley, Zak Hardaker, Tom Briscoe (1 try)

Try Assists: Matt Moylan, Gareth O'Brien (1 try assist)

Carries: Lachlan Lam (35 carries)

Metres: Robbie Mulhern (331 metres)

Tackles: Matt Davis (79 tackles)

Post Contact Metres: Josh Charnley (130 post contact metres)

Tackle Breaks: Tom Briscoe (16 breaks)

Offloads: Ricky Leutele (3 offloads)

Last Super League match

Follow the Rhinos on the road!

Tickets and travel are available to Rhinos fans now.

Advanced ticket prices are £27 for adults, whilst concession and junior price start from £15 and £5. Travel from AMT Headingley, departing at 5pm, is £18 per person.

Leigh Leopards offer a number of family ticket options for their fixtures. This is available from Leeds Rhinos and can be purchased by selecting the relevant family option, additional tickets can also be purchased on top of these. For more information on ticket bundle prices and more, click here.